Post pulling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A fence post pulling apparatus is constructed of a pair of members, each member having an aperture for receiving a post therethrough with the end portions of the members extending outwardly in opposite directions, and flexible means such as a chain interconnecting the opposite end portions of the members, whereby an upward force on the chain will cause the members to grip the post and pull it axially upwardly, and the transverse forces will be substantially opposed and balanced.

United States Patent 1 De Rome et a1.

[ Oct. 2, 1973 I 1 POST PULLING APPARATUS [76l Inventors: Eugene J. DeRome, Morton Grove;

Carl J. Hengst, Niles, both of 111.

1221 Filed: Feb. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 229,650

1521 10.5.01. ..2s4/30 511 1nt.Cl 1566f 3/06, 1521b 10/02 (58] FieldofSearch 254/29 R, 30,31,

254/132; 294/92; 24/249 R, 249 PP, 249 SA, 249 PC, 249 DP, 132 AA, 132AB, 132 AC,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,202,551 10/1916 MacKenzie254/30 X 2,079,240 5/1937 Bruns 294/92 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATlONS1,073,096 6/1967 Great Britain 294/92 Australia 254/132 Norway PrimaryExaminer-Othell M. Simpson Attorney-Albert H. Pendleton et :al.

[57] ABSTRACT A fence post pulling apparatus is constructed of a pair ofmembers, each member having an aperture for receiving a posttherethrough with the end portions of the members extending outwardly inopposite directions, and flexible means such as a chain interconnectingthe opposite end portions of the members, whereby an up ward force onthe chain will cause the members to grip the post and pull it axiallyupwardly, and the transverse forces will be substantially opposed andbalanced.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures POST PULLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for pulling posts, suchas standard metal fences post which have been driven into the ground.The apparatus is designed for use in connection with standard liftingequipment such as a crane hoist having a cable and a wench with a hookfor engaging the post pulling apparatus.

The apparatus has particular application in the removal of standardfence posts and is especially useful in the dismantling of snow fenceswhere many fence posts must be removed and efficiency is important.Standard fence posts are usually about 7 feet in length and are drivenapproximately 3 feet into the ground. Heretofore, when removing thesefence posts from the ground, it was the practice to wrap a chain severaltimes around the post and then attach the chain to the hoist. This was arather slow process because the chain had to be wrapped securely aroundthe post, and, even then, there was a tendency for the chain to slip andfor workmen to be injured by the chain which was being pulled upwardlywith a substantial force in the post removal operation.

When this wrapped chain procedure was utilized, frequently the postwould be bent or otherwise damaged by the unequal force of the chainacting on the post. Moreover, when using this procedure and equipment,it was possible to pull a maximum of about sixty posts in an eight hourday. In addition, this procedure and equipment requires a substantialpart of the post to extend above the ground, and, while this is usuallytrue in the case of fence posts such as those used in connection with asnow fence, there are occasions when only a very short length of thepost is exposed above the ground. This may, for example, be the casewhere the post is broken off or where shorter posts are employed inanchoring guy wires or the like. Heretofore, it has been very difficultto remove such a post from the ground.

The present invention provides an inexpensive apparatus for removingfence posts from the ground. The apparatus, quickly and easily attachesto the fence post and provides a balanced pull on the post when attachedto a hoist which is exerting a vertical pull on the apparatus. With thisapparatus the forces in other than the vertical direction aresubstantially opposed and balanced. The apparatus avoids damage to thefence posts and so facilitates the removal of the fence posts, thatnearly three timesas many (i.e., about 170 fence posts) can be'removedduring an eight hour day. The apparatus utilizes a minimum number ofparts, is inexpensively constructed and is adapted for use in connectionwith existing hoisting equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the invention,a post pulling apparatus is provided which includes a pair of postgripping members which are apertured adjacent their respective one endswith the apertures being of a size and shape to receive the post, andwhen they are placed on the post and positioned in superposed overlyingrelationship with respect to each other, the other or distal ends of themembers will extend outwardly in opposite directions from thelongitudinal axis of the post. A flexible member, such as the chain,interconnects the distal ends of the members and provides a means forattachment of the power hoisting device thereto. When the flexiblemember is pulled upwardly by the hoist, the gripping members will betilted angularly with respect to the post and with respect to each otherso that the post will be gripped by the post gripping members and thepulling forces will be balanced on the post. That is to say transversebending or twisting forces applied to the post will be substantiallyopposed and balanced by the two oppositely positioned gripping members.

It is preferred that the apertures in the post gripping members be ofsubstantially the same shape as the cross sectional profile of the fencepost being pulled so that the members will not rotate about thelongitudinal axis of the post but will remain in their proper positionwith their distal ends oppositely disposed with respect to one another.

It is preferred that the gripping; members be in the form of metalplates having substantially planar faces and, in the preferredembodiment, the flexible member interconnecting the distal ends of thegripping members is a link chain. The edge of the plate member adjacentthe aperture is rectilinear and preferably is perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the plate and to the plane of the member so thatwhen the members are assembled on the post in superposed relationshipand an upward force is exerted against the flexible member to tilt themembers upwardly at approximately right angles with respect to eachother, the edge portion of the upper plate member will flatly engage thetop surface of the lower plate member and the two plate members willform a unitary assembly for lifting the fence post out of the ground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS other and to the fence post as the fencepost is being pulled out of the ground by the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a fence post showing one of the plate-likepost gripping members being positioned thereon; and I FIG. 5 is a sideelevational view of the plate-like post gripping member illustrated inFIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With further reference to thedrawing in FIG. 1, there is shown an apparatus 10 for pulling fenceposts 12 (see FIGS. 2-5). The particular apparatus shown in the drawingis one for pulling fence posts of standard construction; such fenceposts are substantially T-shaped, each having a leg portion forming afirst flange 12a, and a transverse portion forming a pair of oppositeddisposed flanges 12b and 12c. Extending in the opposite direction fromthe flange 12a are a plurality of hooks 14 which extend outwardly andupwardly, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and l. The flanges 12a, 12b and12c, and the hooks 14, extend radially outwardly from the longitudinalaxis of the fence post.

The apparatus includes a pair of fence post gripping members, 16 and 18.In the illustrated embodiment these gripping members are elongated, andpreferably rectangular steel plates, each having planar top and bottomsurface portions and a proximate edge portion which is rectilinear andpreferably perpendicular to the longitudinal sides or axis of themember. Thus, the rectilinear edge 18a is provided for the member 18,and the rectilinear edge 16a is provided for the member 16.

Each of the gripping members 16 and 18 is provided with an aperture forreceiving the fence post. Thus, gripping member 16 has an aperture 20and gripping member 18 has an aperture 22. The apertures are locatedadjacent the proximate edge portions of their respective grippingmembers, and these apertures are substantially the same shape as thecross sectional profile of the fence post being pulled. These apertures,however, are slightly larger than the fence post cross section so thatthe gripping members may be readily slid over the post in the directionof the longitudinal axis of the post. The apertures 20 and 22 are mirrorimages of one another, so that when positioned on the fence post 12 thedistal ends 16b and 18b of the gripping members 16 and 18, respectively,will extend radially outwardly from the axis of the fence post inopposite directions.

Since in the illustrated embodiment the fence post 12 are standard andhave T-shaped cross sectional profiles, the apertures 20 and 22 in thegripping members 16 and 18, respectively, are also substantiallyT-shaped with an extension above the transverse portion of the T toaccomodate the hooks 14 of the fence post. The size and shaperelationship between the gripping member aperture and the crosssectional profile of the fence post 12 is best illustrated in FIG. 4.

The fact that the apertures 20 and 22 are substantially the same shapeas and just slightly larger than the cross sectional profile of thefence post 12 serves to prevent any substantial rotation of the grippingmembers 16 and 18 with respect to the fence post or with respect to oneanother after they have been placed in position on the fence post.

The transverse dimensions of the apertures 20 and 22 (Le, the verticaldimensions as viewed in FIG. 4) are governed solely by the desideratumof sliding the gripping members easily onto the fence post. However, thelongitudinal dimensions of the apertures are preferably governed notonly by the desirability of easily sliding the gripping members onto thefence post, but also by the desirability of having the aperture definingportions engage and grip the corresponding portions of the fence postwhen the gripping members have been tilted to their predeterminedgripping angles, which are preferably approximately 45 degrees withrespect to the fence post, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, the apertures20 and 22 are preferably 45 degree projections of the cross sectionalprofile of the fence post on the planar surfaces of the gripping members16 and 18. This will affect the longitudinal dimensions of the apertures20 and 22, and as seen in FIG. 3, the thickness of the members l6 and 18will also be a factor in determining the longitudinal dimensions of theapertures. The aperturedefining portions at the top surface of eachgripping member will engage one side of the post, and theaperture-defining portions at the bottom surface of each member willengage the opposite side of the post when the members are tilted totheir gripping angles. When the gripping members 16 and 18 are moved totheir angular gripping and pulling positions,'as illustrated in FIG. 3,it is preferable to have as much of the aperture defining portions aspossible in gripping engagement with the fence post 12.

Since the apertures 20 and 22 are adapted to provide gripping for thefence post when the gripping members are positioned at theirpredetermined gripping angles, which in the illustrated embodiment areangles of 45 degrees with respect to one another, it is apparent thatthe gripping members themselves will, in this position, be disposed attwice this angle or with respect to one another. In this position therectilinear proximate edge portion 18a of the upper gripping member 18will engage the top planar surface of the lower gripping member 16, andthe two platelike gripping members will thus form a unitary assembly forlifting the fence post out of the ground.

The distal ends 16b and 18b of the gripping members areinterconnected bymeans of a flexible member such as a link chain 24 which forms a loopbetween these opposed distal end portions 16b and 18b, and provides aready means for engagement by the hook 26 of the hoisting device 28. Thehoisting device 28 may be any of the standard and well known hoists thatwill apply sufficient lifting force to the apparatus 10 to pull the post12 from the ground. The opposite ends of the chain 24 may be welded orotherwise fastened to the distal ends 16b and 18b, respectively, of thegripping members so that when the hoist 28 pulls the hook 26 upwardlywith the loop of the chain 24 engaged by the hook 26, the grippingmembers 16 and 18 will be tilted first to the position illustrated inFIG. 2 and then to their fully tilted angular gripping positionsillustrated in FIG. 3. In this latter position these gripping membersare at approximately 90 with respect to one another,v

and the aperture-defining portions of these gripping members are ingripping engagement with the corresponding portions of the fence post. Afurther lifting force applied to the chain 24 by the hoist will resultin axially upward movement of the gripping members 16 and 18, and thepost will be pulled vertically upwardly and out of the ground.

In this pulling operation, the upper gripping member or plate 18, asviewed in FIG. 3 would normally tend to rotate the fence post in aclockwise direction, whereas the lower gripping member 16 would normallytend to rotate the post in a counter clockwise direction. Since theforces applied to the fence post by each of these two oppositelydisposed gripping members is the same, the transverse or turning forceswill be substantially opposed and balanced. The rectilinear proximateedge portion 18a flatly engages the top surface of the lower grippingmember 16, and there will, therefore, be little tendency for anyrelative movement between the gripping members 16 and 18, and thesemembers will act as a unitary grip for removing the post axially fromthe ground.

The apparatus 10 of this invention may be easily and inexpensivelyconstructed. The gripping members 16 and 18 may be constructed ofinexpensive steel plate, and the apertures 20 and 22 may be broached,drilled, sawed or burnt into these plates by standard shop equipment. Ifdesired, the entire apparatus may be constructed on the work site wherethe fence posts are being pulled.

The apparatus is quickly and easily assembled on each fence post to bepulled by simply sliding the two gripping members 16 and 18 sequentiallyonto the fence post and then hooking the gripping member connectingchain 24 onto the hook 26 of the hoisting device. An upward pull on thechain will cause the two oppositely disposed overlying gripping membersto as sume a right angle position with respect to one another and their45 gripping position with respect to the fence post, thus, balancing theforces for pulling the fence post vertically out of the ground.

The apparatus has been described in connection with the pulling ofstandard T-shaped fence posts with mirror image T-shaped apertures inthe gripping members 16 and 18. This apparatus may, however, be employedvery satisfactorily to pull posts of round cross section such asstandard chain link fence posts or any special shapes of posts such asthose employed for guard rails. The apertures in the gripping members 16and 18 are formed to fit the particular shape of the post being pulled.in the case of a post of round cross section, the apertures 20 and 22would be eliptical (i.e., 45 projections of the circular cross section).The apparatus, moreover, may be used to pull posts of all types ofconstruction including those made of plastic, wood, metal or the like,and these posts may be pulled even when imbedded in a base such asconcrete (in which case the base would be pulled with the post).

It is to beunderstood that the present disclosure has been made only byway of example and that many additional modifications and changes invarious details may be resorted to without departing from the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A fence post pulling apparatus comprising a pair of separate andindependent post gripping members, each member being apertured adjacentone end thereof, whereby said members may be separately, in dependentlyand sequentially placed on a post and positioned in superposedrelationship with respect to one another with their respective otherends extending transversely outwardly in opposite directions from thelongitudinal axis of the post, and each may be pulled to an angularposition to grip the post independently of the other, and a continuous,elongated and uniform flexible member extending between andinterconnecting said other ends of said members and providing means forready engagement by a hoist and for transmission of pulling poweruniformly to the two gripping members regardless of their relativeposition on the post.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is adaptedto be used in connection with a radially flanged fence post, saidgripping members being in the form of plates with the apertures thereincorresponding to the shape of the cross sectional profile of the postand being of such size that the members may be slid over the post in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of the post, but said members willnot rotate relative to the longitudinal axis of the post, whereby whensaid flexible member is pulled upwardly said gripping members will tiltto grip the fence post.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apertures in each ofsaid gripping members are mirror images of one another and are enlargedangular projections of the cross section of the post being pulled.

*' =l= l= is

1. A fence post pulling apparatus comprising a pair of separate andindependent post gripping members, each member being apertured adjacentone end thereof, whereby said members may be separately, independentlyand sequentially placed on a post and positioned in superposedrelationship with respect to one another with their respective otherends extending transversely outwardly in opposite directions from thelongitudinal axis of the post, and each may be pulled to an angularposition to grip the post independently of the other, and a continuous,elongated and uniform flexible member extending between andinterconnecting said other ends of said members and providing means forready engagement by a hoist and for transmission of pulling poweruniformly to the two gripping members regardless of their relativeposition on the post.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidapparatus is adapted to be used in connection with a radially flangedfence post, said gripping members being in the form of plates with theapertures therein corresponding to the shape of the cross sectionalprofile of the post and being of such size that the members may be slidover the post in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the post, butsaid members will not rotate relative to the longitudinal axis of thepost, whereby when said flexible member is pulled upwardly said grippingmembers will tilt to grip the fence post.
 3. The apparatus according toclaim 1 wherein the apertures in each of said gripping members aremirror images of one another and are enlarged angular projections of thecross section of the post being pulled.